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9 Circles of Hell (Dante's Inferno)

Inferno, the first part of Dante's Divine Comedy that inspired the latest Dan Brown's bestseller
of the same title describes the poet's vision of Hell. The story begins with the narrator (who is
the poet himself) being lost in a dark wood where he is attacked by three beasts which he
cannot escape. He is rescued by the Roman poet Virgil who is sent by Beatrice (Dante's ideal
woman). Together, they begin the journey into the underworld or the 9 Circles of Hell.

First Circle (Limbo)

Dante’s First Circle of Hell is resided by virtuous non-Christians and unbaptized

pagans who are punished with eternity in an inferior form of Heaven. They live in a
castle with seven gates which symbolize the seven virtues. Here, Dante sees many
prominent people from classical antiquity such as Homer, Socrates, Aristotle, Cicero,
Hippocrates, and Julius Caesar.

Second Circle (Lust)

In the Second Circle of Hell, Dante and his companion Virgil find people who were
overcome by lust. They are punished by being blown violently back and forth by strong
winds, preventing them from finding peace and rest. Strong winds symbolize the
restlessness of a person who is led by the desire for fleshly pleasures. Again, Dante sees
many notable people from history and mythology including Cleopatra, Tristan, Helen
of Troy and others who were adulterous during their lifetime.
Third Circle (Gluttony)

When reaching the Third Circle of Hell, Dante and Virgil find souls of gluttons who are
overlooked by a worm-monster Cerberus. Sinners in this circle of Hell are punished by
being forced to lie in a vile slush that is produced by never-ending icy rain. The vile
slush symbolizes personal degradation of one who overindulges in food, drink, and
other worldly pleasures, while the inability to see others lying nearby represents the
gluttons’ selfishness and coldness. Here, Dante speaks to a character called Ciacco who
also tells him that the Guelphs (a fraction supporting the Pope) will defeat and expel the
Ghibellines (a fraction supporting the Emperor to which Dante adhered) from Florence
which happened in 1302 before the poem was written (after 1308).
Fourth Circle (Greed)

In the Fourth Circle of Hell, Dante and Virgil see the souls of people who are punished
for greed. They are divided into two groups – those who hoarded possessions and those
who lavishly spent it – jousting. They use great weights as a weapon, pushing it with
their chests which symbolizes their selfish drive for fortune during their lifetime. The
two groups that are guarded by a character called Pluto (probably the ancient Greek
ruler of the underworld) are so occupied with their actions that the two poets don’t try
to speak to them. Here, Dante says to see many clergymen including cardinals and
popes.
Fifth Circle (Anger)

The Fifth Circle of Hell is where the wrathful and sullen are punished for their sins.
Transported on a boat by Phlegyas, Dante and Virgil see the furious fighting each other
on the surface of the river Styx and the sullen gurgling beneath the surface of the water.
Again, the punishment reflects the type of the sin committed during their lifetime.
While passing through, the poets are approached by Filippo Argenti, a prominent
Florentine politician who confiscated Dante’s property after his expulsion from
Florence.
Sixth Circle (Heresy)

When reaching the Sixth Circle of Hell, Dante and Virgil see heretics who are
condemned to eternity in flaming tombs. Here, Dante talks with a couple of Florentines
– Farinata degli Uberti and Cavalcante de’ Cavalcanti – but he also sees other notable
historical figures including the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus, Holy Roman
Emperor Frederick II, and Pope Anastasius II. The latter, however, is according to some
modern scholars condemned by Dante as a heretic by mistake. Instead, as some scholars
argue, the poet probably meant the Byzantine Emperor Anastasius I.
Seventh Circle (Violence)

The Seventh Circle of Hell is divided into three rings. The Outer Ring houses murderers
and others who were violent to other people and property. Here, Dante sees Alexander
the Great (disputed), Dionysius I of Syracuse, Guy de Montfort and many other notable
historical and mythological figures such as the Centaurus, sank into a river of boiling
blood and fire. In the Middle Ring, the poet sees suicides who have been turned into
trees and bushes which are fed upon by harpies. But he also sees here profligates,
chased and torn to pieces by dogs. In the Inner Ring are blasphemers and sodomites,
residing in a desert of burning sand and burning rain falling from the sky.
Eight Circle (Fraud)

The Eight Circle of Hell is resided by the fraudulent. Dante and Virgil reach it on the
back of Geryon, a flying monster with different natures, just like the fraudulent. This
circle of Hell is divided into 10 Bolgias or stony ditches with bridges between them. In
Bolgia 1, Dante sees panderers and seducer. In Bolgia 2 he finds flatterers. After
crossing the bridge to Bolgia 3, he and Virgil see those who are guilty of simony. After
crossing another bridge between the ditches to Bolgia 4, they find sorcerers and false
prophets. In Bolgia 5 are housed corrupt politicians, in Bolgia 6 are hypocrites and in
the remaining 4 ditches, Dante finds hypocrites (Bolgia 7), thieves (Bolgia 7), evil
counselors and advisers (Bolgia 8), divisive individuals (Bolgia 9) and various falsifiers
such as alchemists, perjurers, and counterfeits (Bolgia 10).
Ninth Circle (Treachery)

The last Ninth Circle of Hell is divided into 4 Rounds according to the seriousness of
the sin. Though all residents are frozen in an icy lake. Those who committed more
severe sin are deeper within the ice. Each of the 4 Rounds is named after an individual
who personifies the sin. Thus Round 1 is named Caina after Cain who killed his brother
Abel, Round 2 is named Antenora after Anthenor of Troy who was Priam’s counselor
during the Trojan War, Round 3 is named Ptolomaea after Ptolemy (son of Abubus),
while Round 4 is named Judecca after Judas Iscariot, the apostle who betrayed Jesus
with a kiss.

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Dante's Worksheet Answer Key

1.

Limbo is the sin of not choosing good or evil.

a. True
b. False
2.
Wrath is a sin of eating too much.

a. True
b. False
3.
Greed is the sin of hoarding and spending.

a. True
b. False
4.
Betrayal is a sexual sin.

a. True
b. False
5.
Which level has the punishment of being eternally locked in a burning coffin?

a. Limbo
b. Greed
c. Heretics
d. Betrayal
6.
What did this group of people do to have the punishment of eternally being chewed on by Dis?

a. Betrayed Caesar and Christ

b. Killed 15+ people
c. Committed adultery
d. Worshiped the devil
7.
Dante is .

a. French
b. American
c. Korean
d. Italian
8.
Theme: In the rings, sins progress from small to large.

a. True
b. False
Dante's Worksheet Answer Key
1.

Limbo is the sin of not choosing good or evil.

a. True
b. False
2.
Wrath is a sin of eating too much.

a. True
b. False
3.
Greed is the sin of hoarding and spending.

a. True
b. False
4.
Betrayal is a sexual sin.

a. True
b. False
5.
Which level has the punishment of being eternally locked in a burning coffin?

a. Limbo
b. Greed
c. Heretics
d. Betrayal
6.
What did this group of people do to have the punishment of eternally being chewed on by Dis?

a. Betrayed Caesar and Christ

b. Killed 15+ people
c. Committed adultery
d. Worshiped the devil
7.
Dante is .

a. French
b. American
c. Korean
d. Italian
8.
Theme: In the rings, sins progress from small to large.

a. True
b. False
 MenuSection Navigation

Divine Comedy-I: Inferno

Divine Comedy-I: Inferno Quiz 1
Buy Study Guide
1. 1Virgil appears to lead Dante back to the path of righteousness because
GOD TOLD HIM TO DO SO.
HE IS A FELLOW-POET.
BEATRICE ASKED HIM TO DO SO.
N/A
2. 2Hell is made up of:
N/A
FIVE CIRCLES.
SEVEN CIRCLES.
NINE CIRCLES.
3. 3As Dante descends into Hell, the sins that he comes across become
DIFFERENT, BUT OF THE SAME DEGREE IN THE EYES OF GOD.
LESS SERIOUS.
MORE SERIOUS.
N/A
4. 4The souls who are stung by wasps outside of Hell are
N/A
THE FALLEN ANGELS.
THE NEUTRAL SOULS.
NON-CHRISTIANS, WHO WERE NOT ADMITTED INTO THE PLACES OF REWARD
AND OF PUNISHMENT OF CHRISTIANITY.
5. 5The first infernal river is the
N/A
ACHERON.
STYX.
COCYTUS.
6. 6In Dante's system, murder is
LESS SERIOUS THAN FRAUD AND MORE SERIOUS THAN HERESY.
LESS SERIOUS THAN FLATTERY AND MORE SERIOUS THAN GLUTTONY.
N/A
LESS SERIOUS THAN LUST AND MORE SERIOUS THAN FRAUD.
7. 7Minos is
HALF-BULL AND HALF-MAN, THE PRODUCT OF A BESTIAL LOVE BETWEEN
PASIPHAE AND A BULL.
N/A
A DEMON WHO JUDGES THE GRAVITY OF THE SOULS' SINS.
A DEMON WHO GUARDS THE BARRATORS AND KEEPS THEM FROM GETTING
OUT OF THE BOILING PITCH.
8. 8Dante's attitude towards the sodomites is
RESPECTFUL, SINCE HE HAD ADMIRED THEM DURING THEIR LIFETIMES.
DISDAINFUL, SINCE HE CONSIDERS THEIR SIN TO BE UNFORGIVABLE.
SYMPATHETIC, SINCE HE TOO HAD A HOMOSEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH
VIRGIL.
N/A
9. 9Dante was
 A BLACK GUELF
A GHIBELLINE.
A WHITE GUELF
N/A
10. 10This meant that he favored
N/A
THE HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR, TO STOP FACTIONALIST POLITICS IN ITALY.
A REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT, LIKE THAT LATER ADOPTED BY
FLORENCE.
THE POPE, TO BRING RENEWED CHRISTIAN FAITH TO ITALY.
11. 11Dante's attitude towards Florence is
LOVING BUT BITTER.
VENGEFUL AND FULL OF HATRED.
MILDLY PATRIOTIC, BUT HE WAS MORE INTERESTED IN UNITING ALL OF
ITALY UNDER THE EMPEROR.
N/A
12. 12Francesca da Rimini and her husband's brother fell in love while
READING A CHIVALRIC ROMANCE TOGETHER.
HE WAS RECOVERING FROM A WOUND FROM THE GUELF-GHIBELLINE WARS.
N/A
GOING HUNTING WITH TRAINED FALCONS.
13. 13The river that does not appear in the Inferno is
N/A
PHLEGETHON.
COCYTUS.
LETHE.
14. 14Dante's earth is
DISC-SHAPED.
SQUARE.
 N/A
ROUND.
15. 15The sinners who are covered in flame are
N/A
THE LUSTFUL.
TRAITORS AGAINST THEIR KIN.
FRAUDULENT COUNSELORS.
16. 16Which kinds of sins are considered least serious by Dante?
THOSE HAVING TO DO WITH VIOLENCE.
THOSE HAVING TO DO WITH MONEY.
THOSE RESULTING FROM INCONTINENCE.
N/A
17. 17Hell is
SHAPED LIKE A CONE.
N/A
SHAPED LIKE A DISC.
INCORPOREAL: IT EXISTS ONLY IN THE IMAGINATIONS OF THE SINNERS
18. 18Dante thought Pope Boniface VIII would be damned for
SODOMY.
SIMONY.
N/A
TREACHERY.
19. 19The Inferno was written during Dante's
N/A
TRAVELS IN FRANCE.
IMPRISONMENT IN ROME.
EXILE FROM FLORENCE.
20. 20Dante wrote in
TUSCAN.
 N/A
LITERARY ITALIAN.
LATIN.
21. 21Farinata is
A BARRATOR.
N/A
A HERETIC.
A GLUTTON.
22. 22The time Dante spends in Hell corresponds to
THE DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
N/A
THE DAYS BEFORE EASTER.
ALL SAINTS DAY.
23. 23The forest of twisted trees is in the
FIFTH CIRCLE.
SECOND CIRCLE.
N/A
SEVENTH CIRCLE.
24. 24Dante shows himself to be
N/A
OCCASIONALLY FRIGHTENED, BUT STRONG IN HIS FAITH: HE BELIEVES THAT
JESUS LOVES HIM AND WON'T ABANDON HIM.
OFTEN FRIGHTENED AND OFTEN FULL OF PITY, BUT WITH OCCASIONAL
BOUTS OF UNBENDING HATRED.
HEROIC AND UNFLINCHING IN THE SIGHT OF HORROR: THE HERO OF HIS
OWN POEM, HE WAS ABLE TO DISGUISE THE FAULTS IN HIS CHARACTER.
25. 25Usurers are damned for
FRAUD.
GREED.
 LUST.
VIOLENCE.
Next SectionTest Yourself! - Quiz 2Previous SectionRelated LinksBuy Study
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 STUDY GUIDE NAVIGATION

 About Divine Comedy-I: Inferno

 Divine Comedy-I: Inferno Summary
 Character List
 Summary And Analysis
 Cantos I-IV
 Cantos V-VIII
 Cantos IX-XII
 Cantos XIII-XVI
 Cantos XVII-XX
 Cantos XXI-XXIV
 Cantos XXV-XXVIII
 Cantos XXIX-XXXII
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Divine Comedy-I: Inferno Questions

and Answers
The Question and Answer section for Divine Comedy-I: Inferno is a great resource
to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.
 How does Dante regard these sins in relation to God?
What sins are you referring to?

Asked by xandra s #744623

Answered by Aslan 9 months ago 12/4/2018 10:02 PM VIEW ALL ANSWERS

Dante's Journey.
I'm not sure what your question is here.

Asked by Monir H #736344

Answered by Aslan 2 years ago 12/20/2017 9:31 AM VIEW ALL ANSWERS

Medieval writers often structured a narrative by telling a story within a story.

I think this is generally true.

Asked by kristen l #701876

Answered by Aslan 2 years ago 10/16/2017 3:53 AM VIEW ALL ANSWERS

Ask Your Own Question

Essays for Divine Comedy-I: Inferno

Divine Comedy-I: Inferno literature essays are academic
essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by
students and provide critical analysis of Divine Comedy-I:
Inferno.

 Dante: The Sinner vs. the Sin

 Humanism in Dante and Milton
 Dante's Triangle: The Trinity in The Inferno
 Contrapasso in the Inferno
 Fame and Glory: Can They Be Divine?
VIEW OUR ESSAYS FOR DIVINE COMEDY-I: INFERNO…
 Wikipedia Entries for Divine Comedy-I:
Inferno
 Introduction
 Introduction
 Nine circles of Hell
 Illustrations
 Notes
VIEW WIKIPEDIA ENTRIES FOR DIVINE COMEDY-I: INFERNO…

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 Menu

Divine Comedy-I: Inferno

Divine Comedy-I: Inferno Quiz 2
Buy Study Guide
1. 1Mohammed is classified as
A HERETIC.
A SOWER OF SCHISM.
N/A
A SIMONIST.
2. 2Dante's attitude toward Classical Greece and Rome is
RESPECTFUL AND ADMIRING.
AWESTRUCK: HE DOESN'T THINK THAT A MODERN ITALIAN COULD EVER
ACHIEVE AS MUCH.
HARSH: THEY WERE NOT CHRISTIANS.
N/A

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Next SectionCitationsPrevious SectionTest Yourself! - Quiz 1Buy Study
Guide Cite this page

 STUDY GUIDE NAVIGATION

 About Divine Comedy-I: Inferno

 Divine Comedy-I: Inferno Summary
 Character List
 Summary And Analysis
 Cantos I-IV
 Cantos V-VIII
 Cantos IX-XII
 Cantos XIII-XVI
 Cantos XVII-XX
 Cantos XXI-XXIV
 Cantos XXV-XXVIII
 Cantos XXIX-XXXII
 Cantos XXXIII-XXXIV
 Related Links
 Quizzes - Test Yourself!
 Quiz 1
 Quiz 2
 Citations

 RELATED CONTENT

 Study Guide
 Essays
 Q&A
 Mini-Store
 Dante Alighieri Biography

Divine Comedy-I: Inferno Questions

and Answers
The Question and Answer section for Divine Comedy-I: Inferno is a great resource
to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.
 How does Dante regard these sins in relation to God?
What sins are you referring to?
Asked by xandra s #744623

Answered by Aslan on 1/18/2018 6:43 PM VIEW ALL ANSWERS

Dante's Journey.
I'm not sure what your question is here.
Asked by Monir H #736344

Answered by Aslan on 12/20/2017 1:31 AM VIEW ALL ANSWERS

Medieval writers often structured a narrative by telling a story within a story.

I think this is generally true.
Asked by kristen l #701876

Answered by Aslan on 10/15/2017 7:53 PM VIEW ALL ANSWERS

Ask Your Own Question

Study Guide for Divine Comedy-I:

Inferno
Divine Comedy-I: Inferno study guide contains a biography of
Dante Alighieri, literature essays, quiz questions, major
themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

 About Divine Comedy-I: Inferno

 Divine Comedy-I: Inferno Summary
 Character List
 Cantos I-IV Summary and Analysis
 Related Links
READ THE STUDY GUIDE FOR DIVINE COMEDY-I: INFERNO…

Essays for Divine Comedy-I: Inferno

Divine Comedy-I: Inferno literature essays are academic
essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by
 students and provide critical analysis of Divine Comedy-I:
Inferno.

 Dante: The Sinner vs. the Sin

 Humanism in Dante and Milton
 Dante's Triangle: The Trinity in The Inferno
 Contrapasso in the Inferno
 Fame and Glory: Can They Be Divine?
VIEW OUR ESSAYS FOR DIVINE COMEDY-I: INFERNO…

Wikipedia Entries for Divine Comedy-I:

Inferno
 Introduction
 Introduction
 Nine circles of Hell
 Illustrations
 Notes
VIEW WIKIPEDIA ENTRIES FOR DIVINE COMEDY-I: INFERNO…

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